OH MADISON BELL: Missing from Greenfield, OH - 17 May 2020 - *Found Safe*

Madison “Maddie” Bell left her home in Greenfield, Ohio, around 10 a.m. Sunday morning to go tanning at Country Corner Market, Highland County Sheriff Donnie Barrera told Dateline. But there is no evidence that she made it to the salon, he said.


He added that she was never spotted in Highland County and that the last time she was seen was at her home.

“I was cleaning when she left and she yelled out, ‘Mom, I’m going to tan. I’ll be right back,’” Maddie’s mother, Melissa Bell, told Dateline as she struggled to hold back tears. “But she never came back.”

Melissa said she could always trust Maddie to go straight to the tanning salon and come right back. Sometimes Maddie would stop at McDonald’s for an iced coffee. But when she did, she would always call or text so her mother didn’t worry.

As the hours passed with no word from Maddie, Melissa said she began to panic.

“I tried not to panic - I know she just turned 18,” Melissa said. “But something felt wrong.”

Madison BellCourtesy of Bell family
Maddie’s boyfriend also attempted to reach her, but Melissa said he was unable to. Melissa tracked her daughter’scell phone and it pinged back and forth between the tanning salon and a church near the salon.

So Melissa and Maddie’s boyfriend drove toward the tanning salon keeping their eyes on the road and embankments, thinking she might have been in a car accident.

“Every possible scenario was playing through my head,” Melissa said. “But I never imagined this.”

When they pulled up to the Good Shepherd Church which is located on S.R. 28, just 100 yards from the tanning salon, they spotted Maddie’s car in the parking lot. It was unlocked and the keys were in the ignition. Maddie’s cell phone was on the driver’s seat.

“She would have never left her cell phone in the car,” Melissa said. “And we don’t know if she pulled into this parking lot on her own or if someone coerced her to stop. She was a very cautious girl. She wouldn’t have stopped for someone she didn’t know.”

Sheriff Barrera told Dateline they received a report from a church employee who had spotted a white car with California plates in the parking lot early that Sunday morning.
More at link:

Mother pleads for safe return of missing 18-year-old daughter Madison ‘Maddie’ Bell who disappeared Sunday from Highland County, Ohio

Madison “Maddie” Bell, 18, was last seen around 10 a.m. on Sunday, May 17, 2020, when she left her home in Greenfield, Ohio, to go tanning at the Country Corner Market over the county line in Highland County. But she never made it there. Her car was found nearby in the Good Shepherd Church...

www.nbcnews.com

MADISON BELL was headed to the tanning booth when she went missing. Her car was found in a church parking lot nearby. Greenfield #OHIO May 17, 2020

Police are looking for a white car, possibly a Nissan sedan, with California plates, that was seen in the area. Anyone with information on Maddie’s whereabouts is asked to call the Highland County Sheriff’s Office, 937-393-1421, the Ross Co...

www.crimewatchers.net

 

[Oneofthem]

I didn’t think she left on her own free will.
I’m happy she is out of one situation and hoping the next is a good one but I’m not sure. She didn’t notify police. LE found her.

She is still immature and should have called her mom and bf and said bye. That’s all that was required. I’m sure she felt controlled.

Sleeping with a guy from the age of 13 with your moms permission is wrong on so many levels. Wrong for the young guy too.

Anyway, happy she is safe. Hoping she will make good choices in the future.

 

[Guess Who]

I didn’t think she left on her own free will.
I’m happy she is out of one situation and hoping the next is a good one but I’m not sure. She didn’t notify police. LE found her.

She is still immature and should have called her mom and bf and said bye. That’s all that was required. I’m sure she felt controlled.

Sleeping with a guy from the age of 13 with your moms permission is wrong on so many levels. Wrong for the young guy too.

Anyway, happy she is safe. Hoping she will make good choices in the future.

Kinda makes you wonder if the mom was the one encouraging her relationship with the old boyfriend. I didn't like the fact that he claims he's lived there with her and has been her boyfriend since 13, either. *shivers*

 

[Kimster]

I am just hopeful that due to her just turning 18/graduating, perhaps she wanted out. I would have to look back but I am pretty sure it was said even though her phone, etc. was in the car that she had a debit card and driver's license on her (although I do worry that was for the tanning). Since she lived there maybe she was aware the cameras at the church were dummy cameras... and she wanted no evidence of her leaving? Again I can think of more than a few people who did something like that at 18 thinking NOW I can make my own decisions (just hoping). I don't always think this way but in this case I am trying hard to believe this is possible and hope for the best. Maybe she had a 2nd phone, kids are notorious for that if the parents are tracking them or keeping tabs on them...

You called it, GBear!

I might have leaned further into your theory if it wasn't grad week and she wasn't so "plugged in" to her school and friends. Sounds like she needs to be given some space, that's for sure. She's definitely not the happy kid that her loved ones believed she was....

Whatever the issue, she's found safe and that's a good thing! May she find her way to a fulfilled life soon.

 

[GrandmaBear]

You called it, GBear!

I might have leaned further into your theory if it wasn't grad week and she wasn't so "plugged in" to her school and friends. Sounds like she needs to be given some space, that's for sure. She's definitely not the happy kid that her loved ones believed she was....

Whatever the issue, she's found safe and that's a good thing! May she find her way to a fulfilled life soon.

It was just a feeling and if it had not been for another few cases, my mind wouldn't have probably went there and like you, I am always trying to find hope, this case I felt some in for some reason. When the part came out about a bf living with her since she was 13, that cemented my instinct more. Like any of us though, I had no reason to be sure it was right, it is just one case I saw reason to possibly hope that was the case.

I felt the graduation actually may have been part of the pressure but I also get that many kids want that and are looking forward to it. Her mom also made a remark that her "dream" was to live on the beach... I also thought it just a bit odd how quickly mom was worried and how often the daughter checks in at the age of 18? Oh and the fact she apparently had her driver's license and debit card still on her.

I will also say this and believe me, I never believed it would turn out correct, it generally doesn't, I was just trying to see reason to hope in this case. Woo-hoo maybe only the 2nd time I was ever right after tons of cases. I don't count those ones that we all generally have a feeling of where it is going to likely go like in the 9 year old autistic boy or in the case of Leticia Stauch. The stories were too outlandish...

I have not even read this all yet, just seeing she is alive right now actually. What great news though! Alive is alive! Now I have to go actually read what happened as I have not done that yet!

 

[GrandmaBear]

There was a case back when that can be found and was public so this is not rumor but is to the best of my recollection. It was an over 18 year old UW Madison (Wisconsin student) I am pretty sure. She was from MN however. It was treated as a possible abduction and all avenues were looked at and it was an overwhelming search with voluneers etc., a young college woman missing. The City of Madison expended a ton of resources day after day looking for her. One day she was located just walking and hanging out in a park. I can't remember her name and most probably can't and she is probably glad of that. She did end up having to make a deal and was ordered to pay the city I think and others back in the deal (well they dealt on it, so not ordered). She had her family worried, it was very big news, etc.

Now this is the part I cannot quite remember so this is to the best of my recollection, it seems to me she did something to lend to the look of abduction and helped it go that way OR they could prove she was aware of the searches and let them go on. I believe if I recall, the pressure of school and finals was brought up as a partial "reason", but not sure. She was an adult though, just like Maddie and it is not illegal to take off.

Then there was the Runaway Bride case. She ended up being in Las Vegas the entire time a nation was worried about her. Stress from the thought of marrying someone was part of it or so it seems. I think she also did something to lead towards abduction if I recall? I think they thought she was jogging and some personal items were found or something like that... She also had to make a deal and pay for money expended in searches and do community service if I recall.

Both were over 18 and I can't recall what they could charge them with or maybe it was that they could do a civil suit for costs? I think in both cases they knew they were being looked for and searched for and that could be proven...

Then last year there was the mother and daughter in Wisconsin. I actually thought the husband probably killed them but then things started sounding a bit odd. They also took off and they did finally let somehow let LE know they were safe. Controlling husband/father that one seemed to be. Both again above 18. To my knowledge, they are not charged nor having to repay anything.

I wonder what the laws are, we all know if over 18 you can disappear if you like and if she went and stayed with this man willingly in Maddie's case, he cannot be charged either.

However, I have seen where others have to pay back costs. Anyone have thoughts on this? Does it vary by state or circumstance? I am thinking in the two I mentioned here (not the last one), the student and bride misled LE to believe they were abducted IF I recall correctly..

I just now have read the article about her being found and how it cannot be charged so thoughts are coming on this order...

What does interest me too that in every scenario there was a stressor or so it was claimed... Are these people who cannot break free of control...? Whether it be family, bf, future husband, husband/father, etc.?

 

[GrandmaBear]

Just on further thought, I have wondered more than once but didn't think it a big deal, but did anyone else notice there ARE grad pictures of her in her gown and NOW there are pics of her with her parents like at a grad thing outside with people in the background and yet what we read said there was graduation coming up for her when she left and she wouldn't have left prior to that...? Just a loose end I have wondered about...

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Highland County Sheriff: Bell wanted to start a new life

Highland County Sheriff: Bell wanted to start a new life

HIGHLAND COUNTY, Ohio (WKRC) - A teenager missing nearly a week has been found safe Saturday. No arrests will be made in the case. Highland County sheriff's deputies say 18-year-old Madison Bell left on her own. "This is the news that this community, these volunteers have been waiting on for...

local12.com

Leave a damn note, girl.
Any word on if she'll be reunited with her family? She's 18, an adult, and can't be made to go home if she doesn't want to. (Which is fine, I suppose, but I can't get the image of her mother crying for her out of my head.)

 

[GrandmaBear]

Highland County Sheriff: Bell wanted to start a new life

Highland County Sheriff: Bell wanted to start a new life

HIGHLAND COUNTY, Ohio (WKRC) - A teenager missing nearly a week has been found safe Saturday. No arrests will be made in the case. Highland County sheriff's deputies say 18-year-old Madison Bell left on her own. "This is the news that this community, these volunteers have been waiting on for...

local12.com

Leave a damn note, girl.
Any word on if she'll be reunited with her family? She's 18, an adult, and can't be made to go home if she doesn't want to. (Which is fine, I suppose, but I can't get the image of her mother crying for her out of my head.)

This mother was the truest most devastated parent I have seen in some time. Never a doubt there. I wonder too. All I have read is the family is asking for privacy and the daughter did not come forward herself but was located. It is hard being a parent in any generation and I swear it gets harder in every new generation. Need to protect but need to trust. Need to warn about danger but need to give some freedom.

I am just glad she is ALIVE, such a rare outcome in following cases. The family I would guess is going to have their own things to try to address as if we are honest, all do at times, but I am sure the relief that mother feels at the fact she is alive has to be overwhelming, while at the same time probably having or will have at some point some anger that she could have let them know, or as you say LEFT a note even with all of her reasons--then the parents would have had more hope.

JMO though.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Well that answers one question I had.

Ohio missing teen Madison Bell calls cops to say she's safe and left home on her own after massive search by FBI

She went missing last week hours before her graduation, on the way to salon

meaww.com

According to the Highland County Sheriff's Office, Madison has been in contact since May 24 and confirmed that she had left home of her own free will, Daily Mail reports. However, she does not want her location to be disclosed to anyone.

Her family released a statement and said, "We ask that the public and media respect our privacy during this difficult time while we are emotionally raw. We are just relieved to know Maddie is alive and not in physical danger." The family also thanked all those who had been involved in the massive search for Madison and also the community for their support. "Every single effort to find Maddie has touched us and we appreciate it from the bottom of our hearts."

Search crews speak out, family issues statement after Highland County teen is found safe

Search crews speak out, family issues statement after Highland County teen is found safe

www.wlwt.com

"We ask that the public and media respect our privacy during this difficult time while we are emotionally raw. We are just relieved to know Maddie is alive and not in physical danger.

"Thank you to every single person who looked for Maddie including Rescue 101 Search and Rescue, Texas Equusearch, the amazing members of our local community, and volunteers that came from other areas to search for our daughter.

"Thank you to everyone who donated on Maddie’s behalf to assure we had reward money to offer for her safe return. Thank you to the law enforcement agencies and members for their hard work over the past 6 days, and for leaving no rock unturned.

“Thanks to friends and family who have supported us during the most difficult time of our lives. Every single effort to find Maddie has touched us and we appreciate it from the bottom of our hearts.”


Surritt said lessons can be learned from this frightening experience.

"If that's your intention, to start over, let someone know," Surritt said.

The family is working on returning all the money various people and organizations donated during the search. If certain payments cannot be returned, the family will donate the money to another missing persons case in Ohio.

 

[Kimster]

It would be interesting to talk to her about her why she did what she did and how she did it. I think that some of our other missing are out there somewhere and did the same thing. It would sure help to understand the issues.

 

[Whatsnext]

I agree it would have been a sign of maturity if Madison would have told at least one person about her plans. Also in cases like this one it's quite maddening that so many ressources were wasted . I am so glad she is safe , and I think that there were some serious problems at home that made her leave in this way.

 

[GrandmaBear]

It would be interesting to talk to her about her why she did what she did and how she did it. I think that some of our other missing are out there somewhere and did the same thing. It would sure help to understand the issues.

I agree, how many that have been missing for years did run away? It was good to know and read the things @Whatsnext posted, it sounds like she has not come back and does not want to. The family returning the money is a very decent thing to do and she put them in that position as well and through the trouble of having to do that. Maybe she had more reason than we even know to leave in such a way but it still was irresponsible. A battered wife has to hide but they can let one person know that they know would never share it and not even give their location to that person. I in no way am saying her family did anything to Maddie, we don't know and never will. She just turned 18 and wanted to start her life is how it looks for the most part, and on her own terms.

She could have even done something like give a sealed note to a friend and ask the friend not to open it until such and such a day. Tell the friend it is a surprise for her and nothing to worry about, that all is good and she knows what she is doing, that that day will make sense when she opens it or anything on that order. She disappears on the day or day before the friend opens the note and it says I am 18, I know what I am doing and I chose to leave by my own free will, let everyone know that if necessary. No one coerced me to leave this note, you saw me by myself and not forced to do it the day I gave it to you. Or something like that! She still could add I am not going to share my location but I am fine and will make contact with someone in the next few weeks...

I also see the upcoming problem still here is that she says it is her free will and it is but she now has left probably any support system and is with a man that she likely has not known well, for long, or has lived with for sure and is at his mercy. He may be fine but they may fall apart in short order. Is she going to have to then ask for help from her parents or go back home or can she survive and be safe and get a job and support herself? It doesn't matter, she has now made that choice and it is legal for her to do so. I hope it does not come back to bite her in the "butt" so to speak.

I am however so tickled she is alive and safe. It is all that really matters.

 

[Kimster]

I agree, how many that have been missing for years did run away? It was good to know and read the things @Whatsnext posted, it sounds like she has not come back and does not want to. The family returning the money is a very decent thing to do and she put them in that position as well and through the trouble of having to do that. Maybe she had more reason than we even know to leave in such a way but it still was irresponsible. A battered wife has to hide but they can let one person know that they know would never share it and not even give their location to that person. I in no way am saying her family did anything to Maddie, we don't know and never will. She just turned 18 and wanted to start her life is how it looks for the most part, and on her own terms.

She could have even done something like give a sealed note to a friend and ask the friend not to open it until such and such a day. Tell the friend it is a surprise for her and nothing to worry about, that all is good and she knows what she is doing, that that day will make sense when she opens it or anything on that order. She disappears on the day or day before the friend opens the note and it says I am 18, I know what I am doing and I chose to leave by my own free will, let everyone know that if necessary. No one coerced me to leave this note, you saw me by myself and not forced to do it the day I gave it to you. Or something like that! She still could add I am not going to share my location but I am fine and will make contact with someone in the next few weeks...

I also see the upcoming problem still here is that she says it is her free will and it is but she now has left probably any support system and is with a man that she likely has not known well, for long, or has lived with for sure and is at his mercy. He may be fine but they may fall apart in short order. Is she going to have to then ask for help from her parents or go back home or can she survive and be safe and get a job and support herself? It doesn't matter, she has now made that choice and it is legal for her to do so. I hope it does not come back to bite her in the "butt" so to speak.

I am however so tickled she is alive and safe. It is all that really matters.

In hindsight, I wish she would have left a note in the car that said "I'm leaving for now. I'm happy and safe. I love you all and will contact you in the future. Sorry it has to be this way for now. Trust the process".

 

[Whatsnext]

In hindsight, I wish she would have left a note in the car that said "I'm leaving for now. I'm happy and safe. I love you all and will contact you in the future. Sorry it has to be this way for now. Trust the process".

Yes, but some people (like me, cough) would have said that she was forced to write that note, etc....the best thing would have been if she told them the truth right away, but I have the feeling that she was afraid they could somehow prevent her from leaving. We will never know, but I agree that there could be much to learn from this story.

 

[Kimster]

Yes, but some people (like me, cough) would have said that she was forced to write that note, etc....the best thing would have been if she told them the truth right away, but I have the feeling that she was afraid they could somehow prevent her from leaving. We will never know, but I agree that there could be much to learn from this story.

Whether they would have prevented her from leaving or not, I do believe she was certain they would!

 

[GrandmaBear]

In hindsight, I wish she would have left a note in the car that said "I'm leaving for now. I'm happy and safe. I love you all and will contact you in the future. Sorry it has to be this way for now. Trust the process".

I do too although I think I would still wonder if I was a mother whether she trustingly went with some predator I think. It would certainly help the level of panic and fear though as you would have a lot of reason to at least hope. It isn't law but yes, just letting a parent know in some way that you are safe, even through someone else. All she had to do was herself call LE and tell them that and she is 18 and insist her parents not be told where she is. She clearly doesn't even know that can be done. Or did she want to have them all worry she may be dead? It shows a naievete about her to not even care if anyone thought her dead including LE and to me, that does not bode well for her decision making at all. Also, it appears that, if she is with this man, that all she did was trade one relationship and dependency for another. I hope she is bent on getting a job and education and not trusting the man to "rescue" her from one situation and heading right into another.

I just had a thought. I wonder if they both waited until she was 18 as he would be arrested if she was under 18? Maybe they have known each other longer than I think but if so, I don't know when she would have had time as it seems as if she was closely watched, etc.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Now that Maddie is safe, just having some additional thoughts.

Maddie was said to have always texted, even if she was going to be "just 5 minutes" late. Delayed in the McDonalds line? Better text. Whose idea was that? Probably not Maddie's.
Maddie was just a few minutes delayed from tanning, and they traced her phone. A few minutes. Not a few hours. Her phone was across the street from where she said she would be, within a reasonable time frame of when she said she'd be there, and they drove down to see where she was. Obviously in this case she was gone, but is this the first time she would have seen that reaction for being a few minutes off schedule?
What if she did leave a note? And that note wasn't handed over because they wanted a search to find her?

This was going to be a huge week for her. All the graduation stuff, etc. She must have felt seriously trapped or in a bad place to leave like that. (I'm not excusing her. She let a massive search go on in the middle of a pandemic and people giving a lot of money. But I just think maybe we don't know everything.)

 

[GrandmaBear]

Now that Maddie is safe, just having some additional thoughts.

Maddie was said to have always texted, even if she was going to be "just 5 minutes" late. Delayed in the McDonalds line? Better text. Whose idea was that? Probably not Maddie's.
Maddie was just a few minutes delayed from tanning, and they traced her phone. A few minutes. Not a few hours. Her phone was across the street from where she said she would be, within a reasonable time frame of when she said she'd be there, and they drove down to see where she was. Obviously in this case she was gone, but is this the first time she would have seen that reaction for being a few minutes off schedule?
What if she did leave a note? And that note wasn't handed over because they wanted a search to find her?

This was going to be a huge week for her. All the graduation stuff, etc. She must have felt seriously trapped or in a bad place to leave like that. (I'm not excusing her. She let a massive search go on in the middle of a pandemic and people giving a lot of money. But I just think maybe we don't know everything.)

I agree with all of your thoughts on this. I wonder if she was even under "such" control because they knew or sensed she wanted to leave or that there had been issues prior. That is a really interesting thought about the note, they knew they may never be able to find her but that LE would track her down perhaps?

I have seen a case or two where someone is found and we never do get all of the answers and it frustrates me. I don't think we will get them here. I don't think the family will talk more or share more so unless Maddie at her young age decides to share some things or her hometown bf does, or some day even, I think we are left to wonder?

The facts we do have though kind of point to exactly what you are saying. This seems a bit overcontrolling for an 18 year old. Close to home, 18, through high school and they are that panicked that quickly? Was she expected to report at least every 15 minutes or something?

It was said that was how she was, I have a feeling that was what she was told and taught to do seems more likely at her age..

Jmo though.

 

[Whatsnext]

Now that Maddie is safe, just having some additional thoughts.

Maddie was said to have always texted, even if she was going to be "just 5 minutes" late. Delayed in the McDonalds line? Better text. Whose idea was that? Probably not Maddie's.
Maddie was just a few minutes delayed from tanning, and they traced her phone. A few minutes. Not a few hours. Her phone was across the street from where she said she would be, within a reasonable time frame of when she said she'd be there, and they drove down to see where she was. Obviously in this case she was gone, but is this the first time she would have seen that reaction for being a few minutes off schedule?
What if she did leave a note? And that note wasn't handed over because they wanted a search to find her?

This was going to be a huge week for her. All the graduation stuff, etc. She must have felt seriously trapped or in a bad place to leave like that. (I'm not excusing her. She let a massive search go on in the middle of a pandemic and people giving a lot of money. But I just think maybe we don't know everything.)

Well, that she maybe did leave a note never crossed my mind til now, but with all that we know about the controlling behaviour of some players in that story, who knows? But I hope they'll find a peaceful way to reunite after the dust has settled.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Well, that she maybe did leave a note never crossed my mind til now, but with all that we know about the controlling behaviour of some players in that story, who knows? But I hope they'll find a peaceful way to reunite after the dust has settled.

I agree. That was a very interesting thought that there could have been a note. It absolutely never crossed my mind either until @SheWhoMustNotBeNamed said it. It does kind of fit into what we do know...